Dietary veganism-the practice of abstaining from eating animal products-is a lifestyle rife with mystery, myths and misconceptions, and is often erroneously regarded as a dietary regime for extremists.

Chef Dan Jacobs expected his recent batch of jalapeño poppers to be tame because peppers grown at this time of the year are generally mild. But he quickly discovered that his spicy appetizer carried an unexpected fire.

Ellen DeGeneres may be an outspoken vegan today, but a life without meat or dairy wasn’t always easy for her to, er... digest. Raised in New Orleans and Texas, the talk show host says she always had a healthy appetite for sausage-laden red beans and rice.

A new short video explores some cheap and yummy vegan eats throughout the Big Apple - as well as cheap (or free!) cultural happenings around town, creating a perfect New York City vegan weekend on a budget.